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Hurtigruten Bergen to Kirkenes Norway

Sail Date:
June 2014

Destination:
Baltic Sea

Embarkation:
Bergen

We just returned from a Hurtigruten cruise from Bergen Norway to Kirkenes, a six night, five day cruise. We wanted to see that coast and that midnight sun on June 21 for some time. Friends in Germany had told us, “Not much rain in Norway.” It was overcast and rainy the whole time. The fjords were beautiful. The rock formations were stunning even without the sun. We hadn’t booked any excursions, but planned on walking around the towns. Of course the weather wasn’t Hurtigruten’s fault. The ship offered a baptism by Neptune. Neptune “baptized” us all week!

The ship made a big marketing deal of the midnight sun. Come to the top deck, camera-ready and special drinks for sale at midnight. We looked out our port-hole for the sun. No show, just overcast! We were there; the sun was somewhere in hiding.

A number of travelers on the ship were disappointed in the company’s squeezing of every possible kroner out of us. Coffee was More
free and plentiful for breakfast. But to have it any other time, you were encouraged to buy a COFFEE PACKAGE. You got a small mug and paid the equivalent of $60 for five days of unlimited coffee. I mean, really, who drinks $12 worth of coffee a day? And no water at the table for lunch or dinner. Of course, you could buy mineral, sparkling water. Our friends traveling with us tried to bring their water from the room. It was confiscated by the smiling dining room greeters with the hand-sanitizing squirt. I heard one staffer say, the only thing free on the ship is the air. And the squirt!

On the plus side, the staff were friendly and helpful at every opportunity. The Wifi was reliable in the public sections suggested. The food was good. The buffets had plentiful choices for breakfast and lunch. The dinner offerings were artfully presented and pretty tasty.

They allowed a limited amount of wine in your luggage. I was glad they didn’t check. My litre and a half went a bit over. Less